What is zakah’s purifying purpose, and why do rates vary by wealth type?
2026-09-20
T23 · Ibn Taymiyyah
Ibn Taymiyyah
شيخ الإسلام أحمد بن تيمية
Explanatory passage · Selected source passage(s) — fully translated
Selected explanation from the opening discussion at 25/8. The same passage goes on to relate different zakah proportions to the type of wealth and the effort involved in acquiring it. The English translates every displayed Arabic paragraph; this selection is not the complete surrounding work. Square brackets identify translator-supplied clarification.
النص العربي
المقتطف
فقد سمى الله الزكاة صدقة وزكاة، ولفظ الزكاة في اللغة يدل على النماء.
فلهذا كانت هذه اللفظة في الشريعة تدل على الطهارة؛ نفس المتصدق تزكو، وماله يزكو، يطهر ويزيد في المعنى.
English translation
English translation reviewed against the displayed Arabic by SalafAlSalih editorial preparation (AI-assisted); explanatory additions appear in square brackets or separate notes.
Selected explanation
Allah has called zakah both charity and zakah. The word zakah in the language denotes growth.
For this reason, this word in the religious law denotes purification: the giver’s soul grows in purity, and his wealth grows in purity; it is purified and increases in a meaningful sense.
Source and editorial notes
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 25/8
مجموع الفتاوى
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā
Arabic passage checked against the cited edition and location. English reviewed against every displayed Arabic paragraph on 14 October 2026.